Dispensing device



1943. A. J. LAUTM ANN 2,333,320

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 16, 1941 7 r 22 J9 313/4 g Eb, ig

v 1 (Jlawwmmzw Patented Nov. 2, 1943 DISPENSING. DEVICE;

Alfred J. Lautmann, Detroit, Mich., assignor. to I'odent, Chemical Company, Detroit; Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application July 16, 1941, Serial No;.,4 il2,668

' Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and particularly to the kind embodying a container which may be collapsed to thereby expel the contents thereof through an opening leading therefrom.

Dispensing devices of the aforesaid character are often used in the dispensing of facial and hand creams and like cosmetics as well as similar products such as deodorizing and kindred compounds, tooth paste, shaving creams and various other pastes. While-in many of'such usages such devices, when not in: use, are stored in cabinets and the like wherethey are not exposed to view, there areinstances whereit is desirable and advantageous that such devices be kept under circumstances where they will be exposed to view, as when they are-laid on dressing tables and the like. Particularly where the containers of such devices are not collapsed first at the end thereof opposite the discharge opening leading therefrom and especially where such containers are not rolled upon the collapsed portions thereof, such containers may often havean unsightly appearance which is objectionable in those instances where the containers are exposed to view.

Moreover, it has been observed that generally more satisfactory results can be realized if containers of the aforesaid character are collapsed first from the end thereof opposite thedischarge opening therein, and among the objects of the present invention is to insure such collapsing of a collapsible container;

Still another object of the present invention is to conceal the collapsible portion of the container or dispensing device and particularly to effect this in such a way as to insure that the dispenslllg device will at all times have a pleasing appearance for so to do not only avoids the unsightly appearance of dispensing devices when they are left exposed to View but it also tends to increase the salability of devices of the aforesaid character and is advantageous for other reasons.

In many of the uses to which the present invention may be put it will be advantageous to utilize a translucent material to conceal the collapsible portion of the device but a metallic covering may also be utilized. However it is another object of this invention to conceal the coliapsible portion of a dispensing device by utilizing a translucent covering whereby while the collapsible portion of the container may, thus be concealed, the outlines thereof may nevertheless be ascertained through the translucent member when the translucent member is disposed between a source of light and the point of observation. This permits the determination of the degree of collapsing of the collapsible portion and from this itis possible to determine the quantity of material remaining in the collapsible portion of' the device.

Yet other'objects of this invention are to expedite proper collapsing of the collapsible portion of a. dispensing device and thereby facilitate and insure proper discharge of the contents therefrom; tomaintain the collapsed portion of a dis-v pensing device in collapsed condition once it has been collapsed; to enable collapsing of the collapsible portion of a dispensing device to be effected upon relative rotation of parts of the dispensing device; and to enclose the collapsible portion of av dispensing device in-a container including the portion which may be rotated relative t'o-thecontainer and to which the collapsible portion bfth'e'device isconnec'ted so as to thereby insurecontrolled yet proper collapsing of the collapsible portion of the dispensing device.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide anovel dispensing device of pleasing and movement of such a device on the surface upon which it may be disposed.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptionand claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview ofthe appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the dispensing device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing certain of the elements in a different operating position;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view looking in at the left-hand end of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is. a perspective detail View of an element of the device.

A preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referring thereto it will be seen that the collapsible portion of the device is afforded by a sack, generally indicated by 5 and described in detail hereinafter. This sack is permanently mounted in an enclosure in the form of a tube 6 that has the ends thereof closed by members of which one is effective to secure one end of the sack 5 in position in the tube 6 and the other of which is operative to effect controlled and proper collapsing of the sack 5.

In the form of my novel dispensing apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing the tube 6 is circular in cross section and is made of a rigid, translucent plastic material such as those However, in those instances where the advantages of a translucent material are not needed or desired, the tube as 6 may be of metal such as aluminum, stainless steel or the like and, of course, other suitable materials may be used. A base, generally indicated by I, is rotatably mounted at one end of the tube 6 and one convenient way in which this may be effected is the provision of a substantially V-shaped groove 8 on the inner surface of the tube 6 near the end thereof whereat the base 1 is to be mounted. The illustrated base includes a head 9 which, for a purpose to be explained presently, is preferably polygonal in outline. A neck I extends inwardly from the head 9 and terminates in a tapered end portion II). This tapered end is arranged to include 'a portion that extends beyond the periphery of the neck II and another portion leads from the free end of this taper and at right angles theretoto the periphery of the neck I0 whereby a substantially right angular shoulder I l is afforded near the free end of the neck I II. The neck I0 is preferably circular in outline and of a size such that it will neatly fit in the adjacent end of the tube 6 and the apex of the shoulder l I is also circular in outline but of a diameter greater than that of the inner periphery of the tube 6; The diameter of the neck I0 is less than that of'the head 9 whereby a shoulder I2 is defined on the base 1. This shoulder is adapted to engage the adjacent end of the tube 6, and when the shoulder I2 is engaged with such end of the tube 6 the shoulder II seats in the groove 8. The material of which the base I and the tube 6 are made is such as to embody sufilcient resiliency to enable the shoulder I I to be forced along the inner periphery of the tube 6 until it snaps into the groove 8. When, however, the shoulder II is seated in the groove 8 it enables the base I to be rotated relative to the tube 6 but at the same time prevents displacement of the base from the tube. It

will be understood that the base I might be connected to the tube 6 other than in the manner just explained, but it has been found that this is a convenient and inexpensive way to rotatably interconnect a tube as 6 and a base as 1.

The sack is preferably circular in outline and sized to neatly fit in the tube 6 into which the empty sack is passed to have a free end thereof aligned with the end of the tube opposite that whereat the base I is to be mounted, the op the tube 6, the tight clamping action which is thus afforded securing the plug I3 and the sack 5 in position in the tube 6. By reason of the aforesaid diameter of the neck portion I4 it is spaced inwardly from the free marginal edge of the head I5 of the plug I3, the head I5 preferably being of an outline similar to that of the outline of the tube 6 and preferably being of an equal diameter so that these portions will smoothly join. It will be understood that the sack as 5 might be secured to the tube as 6 other than in the manner just described but I have found this to be a convenient and inexpensive way of firmly connecting such a sack in such a tube.

A neck I6 projects from the head I5 of the plug I3 in a direction opposite to th projection from this head of the tapered neck I4, and this neck I6 is preferably medially located on the plug I3. A bore I'I passes through the plug I3 so as to medially pass through the neck I5. The periphery' of the neck I6 is screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded inner periphery on the neck I8 of the cap generally indicated by I9, which preferably has an outline corresponding to that of the cap I. A gasket 20 is provided at the inner end of the, neck I8 of the cap I9 and is effective to tightly close the end of the bore I! when the cap I9 is screw-threaded into its closed position on the plug I3. 7

With the sack and tube assembled in the above described manner an arrangement is afforded which may be filled by any of the conventional methods but when the materialthat is to be dispensed from my device is introduced into the sack, a portion of the sack at the free end thereof is not filled and this portion is permitted to extend beyond the adjacent end of the tube. This end of the sack is thereafter closed, as will be explained presently.

The sack 5 is desirably made of a highly flexible and waterproof material and I have found it advantageous to make this sack of what is chemically known as a stabilized halogen containing rubber derivative, or more specifically a stabilized rubber hydrohalide, an example of this material being disclosed in Patent No.

1,989,632, patentedJanuary 29, 1935 to William C. Calvert. This material is available in the form of what is referred to as a film and I prefer to use such form of this material. A material that I have found to be particularly advantageous is one which, upon testing for tensile strength, is found to have a yield point which first occurs at about 15% to 20% elongation, this being followed by a racking period up to about 200% to 250% elongation, which, in turn, is

followed by a secondary elastic period of about 500% to 600% elongation. While a material having the aforesaid desirable properties is particularly advantageous for use in the present invention, desirable results may be realized, at

prionate or ethyl cellulose film. However, it is particularly advantageous to make the sack as 5 of a stabilized halogen containing rubber de 'rivative having physical properties like those set forth since both elongation and elasticity are desirable properties in the sack and amaterial of this character embodies both of these characteristics.

As stated hereinabove, the sack 5 is filled after it is introduced into the tube 6 and it has been explained that the sack is not completely filled adjacent the open free end thereof? affording; a postion which maybe pinclredttogether, preferably by tapering inwardly a: marginal: portion near the end ofthe sack; and compressing; opposite portions or the free end ofthe sack together to aflord a; tail; 2|. The free end of. the tail H is preferably folded-upon itself, as indicated at 22 to enable" it to connected to the base 1-.

While the tail 2| maybe conne'ctedt'o the base 1 a'. wide variety of ways; nhave found it ad'- vantageous to' anord a diametrically extending slot 2 3 inthe neel': Hr, this slot 23 extending from the shoulder H diametricallyinto the neck to a point beyond the axial center thereof. As best shown in Fig 5', the portion of the: slot 23 in the part W is tapered so as: to decrease in Widthinwa'rdlyoi the extent: thereof, A. portion 6f the neon. i beneath the tapered part H3 thereof is cut away to afford a'pocket 24 which is: in communication withithe tapered slot 23.

the'base' 1 arranged in the just described manner; the ortion. of the tail 2| immediately adjacent the apex A (Fig. 2) is passed into the slot 23 which is sized at its outer end to enable un'restricteu passage of the" tail 2| thereinto.

at 22 is folded upon itself that when this portionof the tail 2:! is passed into the pocket 2'4 is will be neatly embraced therein. It is, however, primarily the" clamping of the tail 2! inthe slot 23 that serves to firmly interconnect the base i and the sack 5.

Thus in assembling a dispensing device of my invention: a sa-ck as is filled the manner ab'ove described andto the extent shown in Fig. 2 andthereafter the tail as 2i of this sack is connected tci a base as L Then the neckof a base as I is assed into the tube as 6- until the shoulder as H thereon seats in the groove as 8 tothereby rotatively connect the base as I to the tube as 6 and thereupon assembly of my device is completed.

when it is desired to dispense material from the sack 5, which material will be of a viscous nature, as explained hereinabove, the cap I9 is removed so as to disclose the free end of the port as I! and then the tube 6 and the base I are grasped so as to permit relative rotation to be effected therebetween, it being advantageous to hold the tube 6 against rotation and to turn the base i. In any event the relative rotation between the base I and the tube 8 causes the portion of the sack 5 adjacent the apex A to be twisted and wound upon itself, as indicated at W in Fig. 3. Each time such relative rotation is effected and the sack 5 is caused to wind, as indicated at W, a, small quantity of material will be forced through the port I! to be discharged from the free end thereof.

Itwill be appreciated that in winding the sack 5 in the manner indicated at W it will be necessary to elongate the sack. It is for this reason that it is desirable to form this sack of a material having physical properties such as those displayed by the above referred to stabilized halogen containing rubber derivative, for the properties of elongation and elasticity displayed by this material enables such stretching of the sack to be efiected as will be required to dispense the quantity of material that will usually be desired each time relative movement between the tube 6 and the base I is effected. A subsequent racking. period will be displayed: by ma.- terial-ot this character under such circumstances and this enables the sack to remainv in its 610D:- gatcdi condition without sacrificing the: desirable elasticity, such elasticity being desirablei since itplaces the base I under tension and prevents retroactive: or unwinding movement of the base F so as to thereby maintain the sack wound upon: itself, as indicated at W. In. any event, the sack Will: need be madeof such material that it will elongate and desirably maintain its elasticity or resiliency so as to prevent breaking oi the sack as itis Wound the: manner. indicated at W.

Particularly where the tube is circular in cross section it is advantageous to'forml the peripheries of the: heads; of the base I and cap l9 as to be polygonal inv outline for when. this is done: and the dispensing: device is. laid on a fiat surtace, such polygonaloutline of, theseparts prevents undesired rolling of the.- dispensingdevice on-the flat surface; It will be appreciated, of course, that the tube 6? may bepolygonal in outline, which will also: realize the; just described desirable result and in such an event the parts as, 11 and [-9 need not be: made soas;- toextend beyond the periphery of the tube 6 and. in such an instance either or both of the parts I and. i9 may be formed so as to be circular in outline if this should be; found: tobe desirable.

In a circumstance whereit is: desirable that the materialwithwhi-ch the sack 5 is-filled i to be keptfree from contamination so as not to be affectedby'any odor orthe like that the sack may innately possess, it will be advantageous to form the sack of a material which will. befree of an odor. Moreover, insome instances it will be desirable that the sack be free of a. characteristic taste as Where a food product is tobe dispensed from my novel apparatus. However, I have found that those materials which possess the other necessary requisites of the sack and which are also free froman odor, taste and the like are more expensive than materials which possess the other properties required of the. sack. Thus in those instances where it is desirable that contamination of the material packed in the sack be prevented, the sack, as in the illustrated form of the invention, may be advantageously made of a two-layer material, the inner layer, that is to say, the one that. is to come in contact with the material to be dispensed, being free from an odor, taste or the like and the outer layer being of an ordinary material. Resort to this arrangement, which will entail the use of two relatively thin films having a composite thickness and strength characteristic, such as required of the sack, enables the sack to perform its intended function of storing and enabling dispensing of the material and at the same time prevents contamination of th material.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a dispensing device which is of attractive and pleasing appearance and in this regard, primarily since the tube as 5 and the base as l and th cap as l8 may be made of a plastic material, such as a synthetic resin, these may respectively be made to possess contrasting or blending colors as, for example, the tube may be made of one color and the cap of another.

Furthermore, since the tube as 6 conceals the collapsible portion of the device, as th sack 5, from view by reason or the translucent or opaque properties of the'tube, I am able to overcome the somewhat displeasing appearance of prior collapsible containers, this being true since th collapsible portion of my dispensing device is'concealed from view.

When the main body or tube as 6 of my device is made of a translucent material, it is possible toview'the degree of emptying of the collapsible portion of the device as the sack by disposing the device between a source of light and'the point of observation. The translucent material will permit sufficient light to pass through my device to permitascertaining whether or not any material remains in the collapsible portion but at the same time this portion will be concealed unless viewed as just described. 1

Still further, by reason of the fact that the collapsible portion of my device will always be collapsed from the end thereof remote from the discharge opening, proper collapsing of this por- 'tion of the devic is insured and hence undesirable oxidation or the like of a portion of the material to be dispensed adjacent the discharge opening may be avoided since this material will be that which is constantly being expelled, and in this respect'it will be noted that a tight closure is afforded for the dispensing opening of my dispensing device which also insures against oxidation and the like.

Many other advantages of the present invenis tion will b apparent from the foregoing description and in this respect, while I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment Of my invention it is to be understood that this is capable ofvariation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details; set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations'as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

' 1. A dispensing device comprising a tubular casing, a collapsible sack in said casing and fixed at its front end to the same and elastically extensible longitudinally thereof to permit and compensate for twisting the sack between fixed portions thereof for expelling the contents of the sack when the same is filled, a dispensing element having an outlet and secured to the front end of the casing and forming a closure for the front end of the sack when the outlet is closed, and a plug fitted in the rear end of the casing and having the rear end of the sack attached to it, said casing and plug having cooperating means for rotatably mounting the plug and for holding the same against movement axially of the casing, the sack when filled being of an initial length to extend from the dispensing element to said plug and the inherent properties of said sack permitting tensioning and stretching of the sack without rupture when the plug is rotated to twist the sack and expel the contents thereof.

2. A dispensing device comprising a tubular casing, a collapsible sack in said casing elastically extensible longitudinally thereof to permit and compensate for twisting of the sack between fixed portions thereof for expelling the contents of the sack when the same is filled, a front plug fitted in the front end of the sack and the casing and fixing the sack thereat to the casing, said plug being provided at its outer face with a centrally arranged, exteriorly threaded projecting neck and having a dispensingoutlet extending through the plug and the neck, a cap provided with an interiorly threaded neck engaging the threaded neck of the plug and closing the dispensing outlet, said cap being also provided with a peripheral portion spaced from the neck of the cap and having an abutting engagement with the outer face of the front plug, and a plug fitted in the rear end of the casing and having the rear end of the sack attached toit, said casing and plug having cooperating means for rotatably mounting the plug and for holding the same against movement axially of the casing, the sack when filled being of an initial length to extend from the front plug to the rear plug and the inherent properties of the sack permitting the tensioning and stretching of said sack without rupture when thetrear plug is rotated to twist the sack and expel the contents thereof.

3. A dispensing device comprising a tubular casing, a collapsible sack in said casing, a dispensing element having an outlet and secured to the front end of the casing and forming a closure for the front end of the sack when the outlet is closed, and av rear plug fitted in the rear end of the casing, said casing and plug havin cooperating means for rotatably mounting the plug and for holding the same against movement axially of the casing, said plug being provided with a central opening and having an inwardly tapered radial slot extending from the periphery of the plug to the central opening and having inwardly converging side walls, one of the side walls being recessed to provide a pocket and said sack being providedat its rear end with a tail portion extending through the central opening of the plug into said slot and frictionally engaged with the converging side walls thereof and the terminal portion of the tail being folded and arranged in said pocket, whereby the rear end of the sack is secured to the rear plug to enable rotation of the plug to twist the sack and expel the contents thereof through the outlet of the dispensing element.

4. A dispensing device comprising a tubular casing provided at its rear end with an interiorly arranged annular groove, a collapsible sack in said casing, a dispensing element having an outlet and secured to the front end of the casing and forming a closure for the front end of the sack when the outlet is closed, and, a rear plug fitted in the rear end of the casing and having a transversely tapered peripheral portion engaging said groove for rotatably mounting the plug in the casing and for holding the plug against movement axially of said casing, said plug being provided with a central opening and having an inwardly tapered radial slot extending from the periphery of the plug to said opening, said sack having a tail portion extending through the opening in the plug and into said radial slot and frictionally engaged by the inwardly converging side walls thereof for securing the rear end of the sack to said plug to enable rotative movement of the plug to twist the sack and expel the contents thereof through the outlet of the dispensing element.

5. A dispensing device comprising a tubular casing, a collapsible sack in said casing elastically extensible longitudinally thereof to permit and compensate for twisting'the sack between fixed portions thereof for expelling the contents of the sack when the same is filled, a front plug fitted in the front end of the sack and the casing and fixing the sack thereat to' the casing and provided with a centrally arranged, exteriorly prc ecting neck and having. an outlet opening said sack having a tail portion extending through the opening in the rear plug and into said slot and frictionally engaged by the converging Walls thereof, the terminal portion of the tail of the sack being folded and arranged in said pocket, whereby the rear end of the sack is secured to the rear plug and rotative movement of the rear plug will twist the sack and expel the contents thereof through the outlet of the front plug.

ALFRED J. LAUTMANN. 

